ETSC’s #LastNightTheEUSavedMyLife campaign builds support from industry and across the political spectrum

Government ministers from five EU member states, together with MEPs from the largest political groups in the European Parliament have lent their support to ETSC’s campaign for the EU to back the full range of vehicle safety measures proposed by the European Commission in May.

Among the MEPs to pledge their backing are Roza Thun, the conservative (EPP) member responsible for shepherding the proposals through the Parliament’s internal market committee (IMCO) and her counterpart on the transport (TRAN) committee Matthijs van Miltenburg from the liberal (ALDE) group. Other senior MEPs to have pledged support include Karima Delli (Greens), chair of the transport committee, Michael Cramer, previous chair of the transport committee, Wim van de Camp, co-ordinator of the EPP group in the transport committee and Marian Marinescu, a vice-chairman of the EPP group.

Last month, a coalition of automotive supplier companies, cities and groups campaigning for greater road safety (including ETSC) called on EU policymakers to give their full support to the proposed package of vehicle safety measures.

The coalition, representing €600 billion of annual sales and 5 million jobs in the automotive industry across the EU, together with city authorities, traffic police, safety and sustainability advocates, cyclists, pedestrians and victims groups, said the European Union should adopt the measures without delay and guarantee the safety benefits of the full package without deprioritising certain measures or further delaying the implementation of the draft regulation.

Sigrid de Vries, Secretary General of CLEPA, representing automotive suppliers said:

“The General Safety Regulation represents the next big step for the safety of Europe’s drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians. CLEPA strongly supports all the elements of the proposed text.

Besides reducing the number of deaths and serious injuries on our roads, the introduction of new safety measures will decrease road congestion, CO₂ emissions, emergency service requirements and related economic costs.  New safety requirements will also push forward European research, development and innovation, contributing to generate growth, jobs and investment in the European Union.”

Jean Todt, The UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety, has also pledged his support for the measures in a video statement.